10-Jun-2016, 13:48
(10-Apr-2016, 21:51)FPidgy Wrote: Hi everyone, just joined the forum here after hearing a D120 and D200 for the first time yesterday at a dealer's place. It was at Midland Audio Exchange in the UK.
I heard them both with Harbeth P3ESR standmounts, same as I have at home, so it was a good real world test. In short, I was very impressed with how they sounded with the Harbeths using the SAM processing. It was verging on unbelievable the amount of bass and size of soundstage they created together. Pearl Jam and Sinatra alike were palpably in the room! And Mozart piano trio was perfectly proportioned and suitably lively. Really enjoyed the music-making.
At home I just have a CD transport / DAC and a turntable as sources. I'm not very interested in streaming, USB and the like. I've tried to do digital beyond a CD player a few times and whilst I've occasionally enjoyed it, I find the overall complexity, maintenance and things like wi-fi drop-outs too much hassle to bother with. This may change in the future, of course, but for now I'm happy spinning discs of both types.
I'm thinking of getting the 200 so I can connect my Nagra CD transport via the AES input (which to my surprise sounded better than S/PDIF during the demo) and use another input for my turntable, avoiding the unnecessary DAC and phono stage separates. I'll also use my Chord Hugo purely as a headphone amp via a digital output.
Currently I'm using an Audio-Technica AT-LP5 direct drive with Nagaoka MP-500 cartridge which sounds reasonable good. I'm thinking about possibly adding an SME turntable later this year with an SME M2-9R and using an Ortofon SPU into the Devialet phono input. Does anyone here use SPUs?
The Devialet will also replace my Leben valve integrated. Although I much prefer the looks of the Leben to the rather 'lifestyle' appearance of the Devialet, I think it's worth the aesthetic sacrifice. Actually the 120 and 200 are very discreet and could be put in a cupboard with my CD player and turntable on the top surface which would look very neat.
Anyway, looking forward to getting my 200 in the near future and just wanted to say hello
Hi Greg
Did you buy a D200 ?
